Coal-washing jig.



A. G. HOEGKER. GOAL WASHING JIG.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1910.

994,160. ,Patanted June 6,1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. G. HOEGKER.

COAL WASHING JIG- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1910.

Patented June 6,1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. G. HOEGKER.

GOAL WASHING JIG.

APPLIOATION FILE JUNE 27, 1910.

Patented June 6, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Q m w m im 7 n NH A. U. HOECKER.

COAL WASHING JIG.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1910.

Patented June 6,1911;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

n 1., Fig

ALBERT CHARLES HOECKER,

OF OOLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS.

COAL-WASHING JIG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1911.

Application filed June 27, 1910. Serial No. 569,105.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT CHARLES HOEOKER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Collinsville, in the county of Madison and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal-Washing Jigs, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to coal washing jigs and has for its object toprovide a machine of this character of comparatively simple constructionwhich is entirely automatic in its operation and will separate anddischarge the slate from the coal as it is washed.

A. further object is to provide a coal washing machine having a movablegate adapted to be actuated by the weight of the slate deposited thereonand which is automatically returned to its normal position by meansactuated by compressed air.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision ofmeans for regulating the amount of slate necessary to cause theoperation of the cotiperatively connected elements of the mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for preventing theloss of fine particles of coal when the feed of the coal to the isstopped and also in new and novel means for controlling the automaticsupply and exhaust of air to the compressed air cylinder.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a coalwashing jig embodying my improvements, part of the water tank or casingbeing broken away; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 3 showing the arrangement of parts after the slate gatehas moved to its discharging position; Fig. 5 is a section taken on theline 5-5 of Fig. 8; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4;Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a detailperspective View of the pivoted gate actuating member; Fig. 9 is aninverted detail perspective view of the hinged cut-off member andmovable slate gate carried thereby.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 5 indicates the tank orcasing in the lower portion of which the water is contained in which thejig proper is adapted to be vertically reciprocated. At one end of thecasing and the top thereof a feed spout or hopper 6 is formed into whichthe coal is poured and from which it is discharged into the jig. Thesides of the tank or casing 5 extend above the forward end thereof andhave arranged upon their upper edges suit able bearings in which thetransverse shaft-s 7 are journaled. Each of these shafts has fixedthereon a gear 8. These gears have intermeshing engagement and areadapted to transmit power from one shaft to the other and to rotate saidshafts at the same relative speeds. Upon the end of one of the shafts 7a pinion 9 is secured which'is adapted to be connected to an engine orother source of power supply to operate the jig. Upon each of the shafts7 and adjacent to the opposite sides of the tank or casing 5 aneccentric 10 is secured. Yokes or bands 11 are arranged upon theperipheries of these eccentrics and rods 12 connect the ends of theyokes to transverse stationary rods or shafts 13 secured upon the upperedges of thebody of the jig. The connecting rods 12 are provided withslot-s intermediate of their ends through which the longitudinallydisposed rods 82 extend and are movable. These rods 32 serve to preventtransverse bodily movement of the jig in the tank but are adapted foranother and more important purpose which will be later set forth. Itwill be obvious that when power is applied to the shafts 7 they will berotated through the medium of the intermeshing gears 8 and theeccentrics carried by said shaft will move the jig vertically in thetank or casing and the coal carried thereby will thus be agitated in thewater contained in the tank.

The jig proper comprises the parallel side members 15 which are formedwith the depending legs or extensions 16, said side members being ofsubstantially inverted L- shaped form. These side members are connectedby means of a plurality of transverse bars 17, 17 and 17. One of theseconnecting bars 17 is arranged upon the rear edges of the depending legs16 and extends below the horizontal portions of the side members.Between the intermediate connecting bar 17 and the rear connecting bar17 a foraminous plate 18 is secured. A transverse cleat 19 is centrallyarranged upon this plate between the two connecting bars 17 and 17 anddivides the same into two sections. It will also be noted that theintermediate connecting bar 17 extends slightly above the foraminousplate 18. The feed hopper or spout 6 extends rearwardly and above theconnecting bar 17 and is adapted to deposit the coal and slate upon theforaminous plate 18. The transverse bar or cleat 19 will prevent all ofthe slate from moving forward over the intermediate connecting member 17and into the leg or extension of the body of the jig. By allowing aportion of the slate to remain upon the perforated plate 18 thepossibility of the fine coal sifting through the perforations when thefeed of the coal is cut off is overcome. It will of course be understoodthat as the coal is deposited in the rear end of the jig, it is beingvertically reciprocated, and owing to the fact that the slate containedin the coal is heavier than the coal, the slate will thus sink upon therear foraminous plate 18 and into the forward leg of the jig body whilethe lighter particles of coal will be floated.

The manner in which the slate is automatically collected and dischargedafter a predetermined amount of"'the same has accumulated will now beset forth in detail. To this end I provide a cut-off member 20 which isshown in detail in Fig. 9 and com prises a substantially rectangularplate curved or bent at one end as shown at 20. The remaining portion ofthe plate has its central body part out out as shown at 21 and from onelongitudinal edge of the rectangular opening thus formed in the plate atongue or finger 22 extends into the opening. One end of the plate 20 issecured to the lower edge of the intermediate connecting bar 17 by meansof a,hinge 23. Thus the hinge will permit of the free swinging movementof the cut-off member 20. A transverse partition 24 is arranged betweenthe sides 15 of the body of the and in spaced relation to the forwardconnecting member 17 To the upper ends of the members 17 and 24 a bar 25is secured. The member 24 extends into the leg of the jig to .a pointslightly below the connecting bar 17. A slate gate 26 is hinged upon thehinged end of the cut-off member 20 and is adapted for movementindependently of said member as will more clearly hereinafter appear.This slate gate carries a spring pressed trip 27 which is pivotallymounted upon a stud 28 cent-rally secured to the under side of the gate.Leaf springs 29 secured to each side of the cut-off member 20 have theirconnected to the longitudinally disposed spaced arms 32. These arms arerigidly secured and extend through a transverse rock shaft 33 mounted inthe upper ends of the bars 33 secured to the side members 15 of the Onthe rear ends of the longitudinally disposed arms 32 a plate 34 issecured. This plate is disposed between the vertical arms of a yoke 35secured to the sides of the jig. Upon the intermediate portion of theyoke which connects these arms an air cylinder 36 is vertically mounted.A piston 37 which reciprocates in the cylinder has the lower end of itsrod or stem 37 pivotally connected to the plate 34 and is adapted tooscillate the same between the arms of the yoke.

It will be obvious from the above description that upon thereciprocation of the piston 37, the shaft 33 will be rocked in itsbearings and the rods 31 connected to the ends of the arms 32 will bevertically moved to swing the cut-off member 20. Therefore it will beseen that upon the down stroke of the piston the rods 31 will be raisedand draw upon the cut-off member so as to carry the same together withthe slate ate upwardly between the sides of the leg of the As thisupward movement continues, the slate gate engages with the lower edge ofthe partition 24 which stops its continued movement. The cut-off member20, however, continues to move the upper edge of said member beingdisposed between the partition 24 and the rear connecting bar 17 Thismovement of the member 20 is limited by the engagement of the same witha transverse plate 38 vertically movable in the chamber or housingformed between the partition 24 and the bar 17. This plate is yieldinglyheld against vertical movementand is adapted to exert a certain amountof pressure upon the cut off member. The plate 38 is carried by thevertically disposed rods 39 to the lower ends of which it is se- 12cured. These rods extend through openings formed in the bar 25 and havetelescoping engagement in the tubes 40 the lower ends of which arethreaded into a cross plate 41 secured upon the upper edges of the sidesof the jig. A coiled spring 42 is arranged in the upper end of each ofsaid tubes and bears upon the rods 39. These tubes are each formedadjacent to their lower ends with a longitudinal slot 43 and the rods 39each carry a pin 44 movable in these slots. The rods are provided with aplurality of transverse openings so that the pins 44 may be adjustedtherein. Thus as the cut-off member 20 moves upwardly and engages thetransverse vertically movable plate 38, it will force the rods 39upwardly in the tubes 40 and place the springs 42 under tension. Theengagement of the pins 44 with the upper ends of the slots 43 will limitthis upward movement of the rods. The tension of the springs in thetubes may be readily adjusted by means of the hand wheels 45 which carryshanks threaded in the upper ends of the tubes and engage with thesprings. By adjusting the tension of these springs, a greater or lessamount of pressure of the plate 38 upon the cut-off member 20 may beobtained so that it will require a corresponding variation of weightupon the slate gate to cause the descent of the gate and cut-off member.It will be noted from reference to Fig. 3 that when the cut-off memberreaches the limit of its upward movement, the trigger 27 engages overthe end of the tongue 22 formed upon the cutoff member thereby lockingsaid plate and member together so that when sufficient slate hasaccumulated upon the gate these parts will move together downwardly inthe leg of the Between the depending leg por tions 16 of the sides ofthe body, a transverse cross bar 46 is secured. As the slate gate andthe cut-off member are forced downwardly by the weight of the slate, thecurved edge of the trigger 27 engages said bar whereupon the trigger isforced off of the end of the tongue 22 to disconnect the parts. The leafsprings 29 which are placed under tension by the connection of theseelements will immediately force the slate gate upwardly and outwardly tothe position shown in Fig. 4 where it will be noted the slate gate isinclined and is disposed flush with the upper edge of the cut-offmember. This downward movement of the slate gate will force the piston37 upwardly in its cylinder and at the same time is adapted toautomatically operate a suitable valve to admit air to the cylinder toprovide sufficient pressure to again force the piston downwardly and cutoff the discharge of the slate. The tongue trip 27 when engaged with thespring of the cut-off member 20 relieves the slate gate of the pressureof the springs 29. To the sides of the U-shaped member 35 the forwardlyextending arms 47 are secured. A plate 48 is arranged between these armsand has formed on each end adjacent to its forward edge a trunnion 49which is journaled in the arms. A transverse plate 50 is secured to thevertical arms of the U-shaped member below the plate 34. A valve casing51 is se cured in the U-shaped yoke 35 adjacent to the air cylinder. Inthis casing a slide valve 52 is arranged, the stem 52 of said valveextending below the casing and through an opening in the connectingplate. 50. This valve stem is provided with a plurality of openings 53in which the pins 54 are adapted to be inserted. The movable plate 34 ispositioned between these pins and is provided with a notch or recess 34to receive the valve stem or rod 52. A supply pipe 55 communicates withthe valve casing and with the air cylinder 36. On this supply pipe astufling box 56 is arranged, said pipe being formed in two sections oneof which is con nected to the source of air supply and is slidable inthe stufling box.

011 the upper end of the valve casing 51 an exhaust valve 57 is securedwhich is adapted to exhaust the air from the cylinder 36. When the slategate 26 is in position to receive the slate as shown in Fig. 3, thefront edge of the plate 34 is engaged beneath the rear longitudinal edgeof the plate 48. To the top of the U-shaped member 35 and adjacent toeach side thereof a bar 58 is secured. These bars extend forwardly andhave secured in their outer ends the vertically disposed tubes 59. A rod60 is disposed in each of these tubes and has mounted in its lower end aroller 61 which engages upon the plate 48. In order to regulate thepressure of these rollers upon the plate, a coiled spring 62 is arrangedin the upper ends of the tubes 59. A threaded stem 63 is engaged in theupper end of each tube and is adapted to be adjusted therein upon thesprings to regulate their tension on the rods 60. Tubes 59 are providedwith longitudinal slots in which pins 64 carried by the rods aredisposed, said pins limiting the vertical move ment of the rods in saidtubes. When sutlicient slate has been deposited upon the slate gate 26to cause the same and the cut-off member 20 to move downwardly in thelog of the jig, the plate 34 carried by the arms 32 will be movedupwardly between the sides of the U-shaped member 35 from beneath theforward pivotally mounted plate 43. This movement will force the piston37 up wardly in the air cylinder and engage the upper pin 53 carried bythe sliding valve and admit air from the source of supply directly intothe air cylinder above the piston. As the plates 48 and 34 aredisengaged, the plate 48 will drop beneath the forward edge of the plate34. A. spring 65 is secured to the U-shaped frame member 35 and to saidplate to limit its downward movement. Stop pins 66 are secured in thetop of the frame 35 and engage with the plate 34 to limit its upwardmovement. When the slate gate and the cut-off member 20 are in theirlowermost positions the slate will be discharged as previouslydescribed. After the discharge of this slate and when sufficient air hasentered the cylinder 36, the piston there- &

in will be forced downwardly and this downward movement of the pistonwill also rock the shaft 33 in its bearings and move the plate 34downwardly, engaging the same with the lower pin 54 carried by the valvestem 52. The arms 32 will be elevated by this movement of the piston andmove the slate gate and the cutofi member upwardly into position toagain receive the slate, said cut-off member and gate being lockedtogether as shown in Fig. 3. The engagement of the plate 34 with the pin54 carried by the valve stem again opens the valve and exhausts the airfrom the cylinder 36 as the piston reaches the limit of its downwardstroke. The slate gate 26 is perforated as clearly shown in Fig. 9 topermit the water to pass through the same and float the lighterparticles of coal over the end of the jig while the slate is depositedin the tank. The bottom of the tank is transversely inclined as shown at5 and a door is provided in one side of the tank through which the samemay be discharged upon a suitable eonveyer.

In order to regulate the amount of slate discharged with each operationof the machine, the plate 38 is adjusted in the leg of the jig bymanipulating the hand wheels 45 to adjust the tension of the springs 42in the upper ends of the tubes 40. The stop pins 66 are then adjustedabove the movable plate 34 and the pins 54 are also adjusted in theopenings provided in the valve stem 52. In accordance with theseadjustments the slate gate will be lowered to a greater or less extentand a corresponding amount of slate thus discharged beneath the lowerend of the partition 24. In the event that the slate gate drops too soonor before a suflicient quantity of slate has accumulated thereon, thetension of the springs 62 in the tubes 59 is increased so as to causegreater pressure of the wheels 61 upon the pivotally mounted plate 48which engages upon the plate 34. Thus the slate gate will be held up inits proper position until a suflicient quantity of slate accumulatesthereon to raise the plate 34 from beneath the edge of the plate 48.

The slide valve 51 is of the usual construction and is provided with aport 51 which communicates directly with the inlet pipe to the aircylinder when the slate gate is down and as the slate gate is raised theslide valve is moved in its casing to register a second port 51 abovethe inlet port 51, with the pipe communicating with the air cylinder.This port 51 communicates with the central bore 51 of the valve fromwhence the air is exhausted through the valve secured on the upper endof the valve casing.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and operation ofmy improved coal washing jig will be readily understood withoutnecessitating any further description. The machine is entirely automaticin its operation, the accumulation of slate on the gate causing the sameto drop to dis charge the slate and automatically admit compressed airto return the slate gate to its operative position. This constitutes theprincipal feature of my invention and while I have shown a specificarrangement of the parts in the accompanying drawings and set forth thesame in detail in the above description, it will be understood that thisarrangement of elements is capable of being greatly modified withoutdeparting from the essential principle involved and it will beunderstood that I reserve the right to make such changes and alterationsas I may deem best within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. In a machineof the character described, a movable gate adapted to be actuated by theweight of material thereon to discharge the same, said gate comprisingtwo relatively movable elements, means for permitting the movement ofone of said elements with relation to the other, and compressed airactuated means connected to said gate and controlled by the movementthereof to. return the gate to its normal position.

2. In a machine of the character described, a movable gate adapted to beactuated by the weight of material thereon, said gate comprising tworelatively movable elements, means for holding said elements indifferent relative positions, means for efiecting such relative movementof the gate elements, and fluid actuated mechanism connected to saidgate to return the same to its normal position after the discharge ofmaterial therefrom.

3. In a machine of the character described, a movable gate adapted to beactuated by the weight of material thereon, said gate comprising tworelatively movable elements, means for effecting such relative movementof the elements, means for locking said elements together forsimultaneous movement, means for actuating said locking means when thegate reaches its discharging position, and means for returning said gateto its normal operative position.

4. In a machine of the character described, a movable gate adapted to beactuated by, the weight of material thereon, said gate comprising twohingedly connect-ed relatively movable elements, means yieldinglyengaging said gate and adjustable to vary the amount of materialnecessary to move the gate, locking means securing the gate elementstogether for unitary movement, means for permitting an initial movementof the gate without discharging material therefrom, means forautomatically actuating the locking means to permit relative movement ofthe gate elements when the gate reaches its discharging position, andmeans for returning said gate to its normal operative position.

5. In a machine of the character described, a movable gate adapted to beactuated by the accumulated weight of material thereon to discharge saidmaterial, means movable with the gate to cut off the discharge ofmaterial therefrom, and fluid actuated means connected to said gate toreturn the same to its normal operative position.

6. Ina machine of the character described, a movable gate adapted toreceive material thereon to discharge the same, said gate comprising tworelatively movable elements, means interposed between said elementsnormally acting to force the same apart, means carried by one of saidelements engaging with the other to hold them together for unitarymovement against the action of said separating means to permit of aninitial movement of the gate without discharging the material therefrom,means for releasin said holding means when the gate reachesitsdischarging position, and means cooperatively connected to said gate andcontrolled by the discharging movement thereof to return the gate to itsnormal posi tion.

7. Inamachine of the character described, a pivotally mounted gateadapted to be actuated by the weight of material thereon to dischargethe same, cut-off means movable with said gate and independently thereofto normally prevent the discharge of material, means connected to saidgate adapted to return the same and said cut-- off means to their normalpositions, and means for regulating the amount of material to bedischarged by said gate.

8. In a machine of the character described, a body, a gate pivotallyarranged in said body for swinging movement, a cut-01f member movablewith said gate and inde pendently thereof, independent means forlimiting the extent of movement of said gate and cut-off member, saidgate and member being simultaneously movable by the accumulated weightof material on the gate to position said gate and member to dischargethe material, and means for returning said gate and cut-off member totheir normal positions.

9. In a machine of the character described, a movable gate adapted to beactuated by the weight of material thereon, said gate comprising tworelatively movable elements, means for supporting said gate in positionto receive the material, and means for moving one of said elements whenthe gate reaches its discharging position to forcibly discharge thematerial therefrom.

10. In a machine of the character described, a movable gate adapted tobe actuated by the accumulated weightof material thereon to dischargethe same, a piston cylinder, a reciprocating piston therein, movableconnections between said piston and the gate, a valve controlling theadmission of actuating fluid to the cylinder, said connecting meansoperating said valve upon the movement of the gate to its dischargingposition to admit the actuating fluid to reciprocate the piston andreturn the gate to its normal position.

11. In a machine of the character described, a movable gate adapted tobe actuated by the accumulated weight of mate rial thereon, areciprocating piston, movable connections between the piston and thegate, a valve, said connecting means automatically operating said valveupon the movement of the gate to its discharging position to admitactuating fluid to the piston cylinder, and means engaging theconnecting means between the piston and the gate to maintain said gatein its normal operative position.

12. In a machine of the character described, a movable gate adapted tobe actuated by the weight of material thereon, a reciprocatory pistonand cylinder for the same, means connecting the piston to said gate, anda slide valve adapted to be automatically actuated by the connectingmeans between the piston and the gate to admit the actuating fluid tothe piston cylinder when the gate reaches its discharging position,whereby the piston is reciprocated to return the gate to its normaloperative position.

18. In a machine of the character described, a pivotally mounted gateadapted to be moved by the weight of material thereon to discharge saidmaterial, said gate comprising two relatively movable elements, meansconnecting said elements for simultaneous movement as the gate moves toits discharging position, means co-acting with said last named means todisconnect said elements, and means for moving one of said elements todischarge the material therefrom.

14. In a machine of the character de scribed, a pivotally mounted gateadapted to be moved by the weight of material thereon to its dischargingposition, said gate comprising two relatively movable elements, meansarranged between said elements to move one of them with respect to theother, means for locking said elements together for simultaneousmovement as the gate moves to its discharging position, and meansengaging said locking means to disconnect said elements whereby thematerial is forcibly discharged from the gate.

15. In a machine of the character described, a body having a dependingleg, a plate transversely arranged and vertically movable in the leg, adischarge gate disposed in said leg and forming the bottom thereof, acut-off member pivoted to said leg, and extending below the same, saiddischarge gate being pivoted at one edge to the cut-oft member andmovable independently thereof, means locking said members together forsimultaneous swinging movement, said outoff member being adapted toengage said vertically movable plate, spring actuated means to returnthe plate to its normal position, the accumulated weight of materialupon the discharge gate being adapted to move said gate and cut-oftmember downwardly in the leg, means for automatically disconnecting thegate and said member to discharge the material, and fluid actuated meansconnected to said member to return the same and the gate to their normalpositions'.

16. In a machine of the character described, a body having a dependingleg, transverse partition arranged in said leg, a plate movably arrangedbetween the partition and the rear of the leg, rods connected to saidplate, tubes to receive said rods for sliding movement, springs arrangedin the tubes engaging with the rods, a cut-off member hingedly mountedin the leg and movable beneath the same, said member being adapted forengagement with said plate to move the same against the tension of saidsprings, a discharge gate carried by said member and independentlymovable thereof, said gate being adapted to support the material to bedischarged, the weight of the material moving said gate and memberdownwardly in the leg, and means operated by compressed air connected tosaid member to return the same and the gate to their normal positions.

17. In a machine of the character described, a body having a dependingleg, a discharging gate arranged in said leg and forming the bottomthereof, a cut-01f member pivotally mounted in said leg, said dischargegate being hinged to the cut-off member and movable therewith, meansyieldingly holding said gate and cut-oil member in spaced relation, aspring controlled locking dog carried by the gate engaging said memberand locking said member and gate together for simultaneous movement,spring held means arranged in the upper end of the leg adapted to beengaged by said actuating member to place the springs under compression,said gate being adapted to receive the material to be discharged, theaccumulated weight of the material moving said gate and cut-ofii' memberdownwardly in the leg, a cross bar arranged in said leg adapted toengage the locking dog to disconnect the gate and member to permitindependent upward movement of the gate to discharging position, andfluid actuated means carried by said body connected to the cut-offmember adapted to return the same and the gate to their normal operativepositions.

18. In a machine of the character described, a movable gate adapted tobe actuated by the weight of material thereon, means for permitting aninitial movement of the gate without discharging the ma terial, a fluidactuated reciprocatory piston, means cooperatively connecting the pistonand the gate, a pressure device engaging said connecting means toprevent gravity movement of the gate, and a slide valve actuated by saidconnecting means to admit the actuating fluid to the piston cylinderwhen the gate reaches its discharging position, to reciprocate saidpiston and return the gate to its normal operative position.

19. In a machine of the character described, a movable gate adapted tobe actuated by the weight of material thereon, means for permitting aninitial movement of the gate without discharging the material, an airactuated reciprocatory piston and cylinder therefor, means cooperativelyconnecting the piston and the gate, a yield- 'ingly held pressure deviceengaging upon said connecting means to prevent gravity movement of thegate, means for regulating the pressure of said device on the connectingmeans, a slide valve controlling the ad mission of the compressed air tothe piston cylinder, and means carried by said slide valve adapted to beengaged by the connecting means between the piston and the gate toactuate said slide valve to admit and exhaust the air to and from thecylinder at the extremes of movement of said gate.

20. In a machine of the character described, a pivotally mounted gateadapted to be moved to its discharging position, by the weight ofmaterial thereon, said gate comprising two relatively movable elements,means to lock said elements together for simultaneous movement, means toengage said locking means and disconnect said elements when the gatereaches its discharging position, and means arranged between saidelements to move one of them with respect to the other and forciblydischarge the material from the gate.

21. In a machine of the character described, a pivotally mounted gateadapted to be moved to its discharging position by the weight ofmaterial thereon,'said gate comprising two relatively movable elements,means to lock said elements together for simultaneous movement, means toengage said locking means and disconnect said elements when the gatereaches its discharging position, means arranged between said elementsto move one of them with respect to the other and discharge the materialfrom the gate, and means co-acting with one of Said relatively movablegate elements to regulate the amount of material to be discharged.

22. In a machine of the character de scribed, a movable discharge gateadapted to be moved to its discharging position by the weight ofmaterial thereon, a cylinder, a piston to reciprocate in said cylinder,oscillatory means connected to said gate and to said piston, meansengaging said oscillatory means to normally support the gate in positionto receive the material, and means automatically actuated by saidoscillatory means in the movement of the gate to its dischargingposition to admit the actuating fluid to said cylinder to return thegate to its normal position after the discharge of material therefrom.

23.1n a machine of the character described, a movable gate adapted to beactuated by the weight of material thereon to discharge the same, acylinder, a piston mounted to reciprocate in said cylinder, anoscillatory plate, the lower end of said piston being connected to said.plate, parallel arms extending from said plate, connections between saidarms and the discharge gate, a valve to admit and exhaust the actuatingfluid to and from the cylinder, and means engaging said plate to supportthe gate against the cumulative weight of material thereon, saidoscillatory plate automatically actuating said valve in the movement ofthe gate to its discharging position to admit actuating fluid to thecylinder to reciprocate the piston therein and return the gate to itsnormal position after the discharge of material.

24. In a machine of the character clescribed, the combination with abody, of a movable gate mounted in said body actuated by the weight ofmaterial thereon to discharge the same, a cylinder mounted on said body,a piston to reciprocate in said cylinder, an oscillatory plate mountedon said body beneath the cylinder, the lower end of the piston beingpivotally connected to said plate, a second plate engaging the firstnamed plate, means yieldingly engaging said second plate adapted to beadjusted to regulate its pressure upon the first named plate, a supplypipe communicating witl the cylinder, a slide valve arranged therein,means carried by the slide valve disposed above and below theoscillatory plate and adapted to be engaged thereby to actuate the valveto admit and exhaust the actuating fluid to and from the cylinder, andmeans cooperatin with the gate to regulate the amount of material to bedischarge l.

25. In a machine of the character described, the combination with abody, of a discharge gate pivotally mounted in one end of the body andadapted to be moved to its discharging position by the weight ofmaterial thereon, a transversely disposed plate mounted on the body foroscillatory movement, means connecting said plate and the gate, acompressed air cylinder arranged above the plate, a piston toreciprocate in said cylinder connected to said plate to oscillate thesame, a supply pipe communicating with said cylinder, a slide valve tocontrol the admission and exhaust of compressed air to and from thecylinder, the stem of said valve extending below the oscillatory plate,pins adjustable in the valve stem disposed above and below theoscillatory plate and adapted to be engaged thereby to slide the valveto admit or exhaust air to and from the cylinder, means yieldinglyengaging said plate, means for adjusting said last named means toregulate the pressure of the same upon the plate whereby the weight ofmaterial necessary to actuate the discharge gate may be varied, andstops adapted to be engaged by the oscillatory plate to regulate theextent of the discharging movement of the gate.

26. In a machine of the character described, a movable discharge gateadapted to be actuated by the weight of material thereon, a pistoncylinder, a reciprocatory piston therein, a slide valve controlling theadmission and exhaust of actuating fluid to and from the cylinder,oscillatory connecting means between the piston and the gate, said meansengaging and actuating the slide valve in the movement of the gate toadmit and exhaust the actuating fluid, and an adjustable pressure deviceengaging said oscillatory connecting means to normally support the gateagainst movement under the weight of material thereon, said connectingmeans between the piston and the gate actuating said valve to admit thefluid to the piston cylinder when the gate reaches its dischargingposition whereby said gate is returned to its normal operative position.

27. In a machine of the character described, a movable gate adapted tobe actuated by the weight of material thereon, a piston cylinder, areciprocating piston in the cylinder, means cooperatively connecting thegate and the piston, an adjustable pressure device engaging saidconnecting means to support the gate in its normal operative position,pressure means engaging the gate and tending to move the same to itsdischarging position, and a valve automatically actuated by theconnecting means between the piston and the gate in the movement of thegate to its discharging position,to admit actuating fluid to the pistoncylinder whereby the gate is returned to its normal position.

28. In a machine of the character described, a pivoted gate adapted tobe actuated by the weight of material thereon, a piston cylinder, areciprocatory piston therein, oscillatory means connecting the pistonand the gate, a slide valve controlling the admission of the actuatingfluid to the piston cylinder adapted to be actuated by said connectingmeans in the movement of the gate to control the admission and exhaustof the fluid, a pivoted pressure plate engaging said oscillatoryconnecting means to support the gate against gravity movement, means forregulating the pressure of said plate upon the connecting means, and aplurality of pressure devices engaging the gate and acting in oppositionto said pressure plate to move the gate to its discharging positionunder the Weight of the material thereon.

29. In a machine of the character described, a movable gate adapted tobe actuated by the accumulated Weight of material thereon, said gatecomprising two relatively movable elements, means yieldingly holdingsaid elements against relative movement,

'means for locking said elements together against action of said lastnamed means for simultaneous movement, one of said elements beingextended at right angles to the other and adapted to support thematerial to prevent its discharge in the initial movement of the gate,means for actuating said locking means and releasing the elements forrelative movement to discharge the material, and fluid actuated meansconnected to said gate and controlled by the discharging movement of thesame to return the gate to its normal operative position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftWo Witnesses.

ALBERT CHARLES I-IOEGKER.

Witnesses C. A. AMBRosIUs, J. A. CARR.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

